Dr David Forrester awarded 2022 Silvicultural Prize

The Percy Stubbs and John Bolton King and Edward Garfitt Prize for Silviculture (Silvicultural Prize) is awarded annually for work advancing the sector’s knowledge of silviculture published in the Institute’s prestigious journal Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research. We are delighted to award Dr David Forrester, Senior Research Scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and […]

Policy Roundup – March 2023

Our monthly policy and research blog updates you on the latest work at the Institute and how you can get involved. Institute news The Spring Budget to Parliament on 15 March touched briefly on waste and agriculture but barely mentioned nature and the environment, so despite positive progress on trees and woodlands with Defra and […]

Women in forestry mean business

Our Head of Policy & Partnerships, Jemima Cooper, recently wrote a blog for the Forestry Commission where she highlighted the women who work across our sector, tirelessly working to plan, grow, plant, establish, manage, harvest, process and research the timber our society needs. When I joined the Institute of Chartered Foresters in 2019 I had […]

Executive Director attends Trees and Forestry Stakeholder Forum

The Institute’s Executive Director, Louise Simpson, joined staff from Defra, the Forestry Commission and Natural England for the first in-person Trees and Forestry Stakeholder Forum, held at London’s Oval cricket ground on 2 March. The meeting focused on how to better support tree planting and care in the future, learn more about emerging issues and […]

Network Rail invests in future of Scotland’s rainforest

An industry leading two-year pilot project to enhance natural habitats near the iconic Glenfinnan viaduct has begun. Network Rail Scotland (NRS) is committing £329,000 for Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) ­- the Scottish Government agency responsible for managing Scotland’s national forests – to complete the most ambitious biodiversity enhancement project that Scotland’s Railway has ever […]

Institute interviewed about skills crisis on BBC Radio 4

Our October 2021 position paper to governments across the UK detailed our serious concerns about the skills shortage in our sector, and its knock-on effect on achieving climate targets. This week Defra released their Environment Improvement Plan (EIP), which is the first revision of the 25 Year Environment Plan that was published in 2018. In […]

Climate at the heart of Scotland’s ‘Tree Oscars’ in 2023

Scotland’s ‘Tree Oscars’ return for 2023 after a hugely successful 2022 and with climate change and sustainable forest management at their core. The prestigious Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards will this year see a renewed focus on climate change after last year saw winners range from a couple who planted 14,000 trees on a rocky peninsula […]

Professional Forester of the Year 2023 award – shortlist announced

The Institute of Chartered Foresters is delighted to announce the four shortlisted candidates for the inaugural Professional Forester of the Year, a prestigious new award recognising outstanding service to the profession and the sector. This award recognises the contributions made by Chartered Foresters to the betterment of forestry on a community, regional, national or international […]

Institute announces new Chair of the Examinations Board

The Institute of Chartered Foresters is delighted to announce that Alex Murray MICFor, Forestry Manager at Glennon Brothers (UK), will assume the role of Chair of the Examinations Board, taking over the position from Steve McCartney FICFor who has stepped down after serving with distinction for seven years. The Chair of the Examinations Board acts […]

Professional & Educational Standards Committee vacancies

Two vacancies have arisen for membership of the Professional and Educational Standards Committee (PESC). Reporting to Council, this is the Institute committee that oversees the examinations and membership procedures, promotes professionalism among the members and oversees the CPD process. The Institute’s regulations stipulate that members serve for two years plus an additional two years if […]